Improved lining for boots and shoes



J. ADAMS. LINING FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Patented Sept. 12

no" wAsHmc-To D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ADAMS, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND A. B. WALKER, A. I. HOBBS, AND WILLIAM RUSSELL, OF SAME PLACE.

lMPROl/ED LINING FOR BOQTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 49,946, dated September 12, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ADAMS, of Kokomo, Howard county, and State of Indiana, have invented an Improvement in Boots and Shoes, which I denominate a Folding Lining and Water-Proof Tongue and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a gaiter having my invention'applied to it. In this figure the gaiter is fastened. Fig.2 is a view showing the gaiterunfastened. Fig. 3 shows an external view of one-half of the upper of a gaiter having my invention applied to it. Fig. 4 is an inside view of a portion of the lining with the Water-proof tongue in a folded state.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The main object of my invention is to form the lining of gaiteuboots in such manner that it will also serve as a tongue or gore for preventing water from entering at the side or front slit or slits, which are made for the purpose of allowing the boots to be conveniently put on and taken on the feet. My invention is intended to obviate the necessity of employing elastic-cloth gores, which soon fray out, and are seldom as durable as other portions of the boots. Besides, such gores are only partially water-proof.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, 1 will describe its construction and operation.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention applied to a gaiter-boot; but it will be seen from the following description that the invention is applicable to boots or shoes of every description which require to be lined, and where it is desirable to make a front or side slits in them to admit of their being put on and removed from the feet conveniently.

One of the old methods of closing the slits of gaiters consists in the insertion of gores of leather or some non-elastic substance, the edges of which are stitched to the edges of the slit. A portion of the gore and leather upper is then folded over, and the edges ofthe slit are drawn together by lacing. This mode of constructing the gores and applying them to the boots opening into the boot nearly down to the sole, I

and is intended to allow the ankle portion to be expanded for the purpose of introducing the foot, after which the edges of the slit are drawn together by means of lacing or secured by means of clasp-fastenin gs. For the purpose of closing this slit I form the lining, Fig. 4, of one-half(more or less) of the boot, so that a sur plus of the material will be left at this slit, which lining is folded and creased in a V form, as shown at a, Fig. 4, previously to applying it to the boot.

The lining should be folded so that its upper edge willbe allowed to spread out a sufficient. distance to leave an opening large enough in the boot to allow the foot to be readily introduced therein. The V shape of the folding gore is preferable to any other shape for the reason that the lining will fold smoothly when the boot is laced upon the foot.

The lining A, when folded, is ofa proper form for the boot, and it extends a considerable distance on each side of both edges of the slit in the side of the boot, so as to form one-half of the lining thereof. This lining is stitched in the boot in the usual manner of lining a boot, with the exception that two or more rows of stitching are made along the edges of the slit for the purpose of firmly uniting the outer leather to the lining at these points.

When the lining is thus applied to the boot the folding gore a will effectually exclude water, and it will serve all the purposes of an elastic gore, and will not be liable to the objections of such gores.

I do not confine my invention to a leather lining, forit maybe made ofany suitable waterproof fabric. I however prefer to use leather of some kind which will be very durable and yet not suffieiently stiff to be uncomfortable.

the ankle portion of the shoe or boot to be expanded in size; but this I only claim when the lining proper is constructed and applied as herein described.

JOHN ADAMS.

Witnesses:

J. H. KROH, A. B WALKER. 

